The perfect complement for your perfect day.
Your wedding is a big deal, and it should be memorable - not just for you, but also for your guests. Holding it in a picturesque location is a great start, but if you want it to have that final, classy element that makes it stick in everybody's mind, you need live music. More specifically, you need a cellist. (That last part may be slightly biased.)
How does it work?
Here's an example of a typical ceremony "Package".
- Prelude - approximately 20-30 minutes of background music before the ceremony starts, as guests arrive and take their seats.
- Processional(s) - music as the wedding party and the bride walk down the aisle. This can be two different pieces, or one long piece for everybody.
- Special Music - a short (or not so short) piece during the ceremony. If you're doing the Ceremony of the Candle, or Pouring of the Sand, or even just meditating for a few moments, it goes here.
- Recessional - a celebratory piece following the conclusion of the ceremony as the entire wedding party exits down the aisle.
- Postlude - more background music as the guests are dismissed. Typically 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of the guest list and lots of other factors.
Customize.
This is your day. Everything else is exactly the way you want it, so why not the music as well? If you're not a musician, music selection can seem like a pretty daunting task, that's why I'm here to help! First, you need to decide how traditional you want your music. I split my repertoire into three general categories - Traditional, Less-Traditional and Non-Traditional.
- Traditional music consists of pieces that your guests will not only recognize, but also immediately associate with "Wedding". Wagner's "Here comes the bride" Wedding March is the best example of this category, along Mendelssohn's Wedding Chorus and Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary .
- Less-Traditional music consists of pieces that your guests will most likely recognize, but not necessarily as a wedding piece. This is by far the largest category. It contains pieces like Pachelbel's Canon (although it arguably belongs in the first!) Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Sheep my Safely Graze, and the most famous part of his Cello Suites, Prelude #1.
- Non-Traditional music consists of pieces your guests probably won't recognize, but will still enjoy listening to. This would include the less-well known parts of Bach's Cello Suites, Mark O'Connor's Appalachia Waltz (a gorgeous piece that makes a fantastic recessional) and any of the pretty melodies I've collected over the years.
There's always room for Cello!
Is a Ceremony package just not enough music for you? I can also play a Cocktail Hour or Reception!
Solo or Violin-Cello Duo?
Right now I mostly play Solo and Duo weddings.
Solo Cello fits best with small, simple, intimate ceremonies with mostly traditional music. It's the least expensive, but it's limited in repertoire because there's only so much I can play that sounds good on one cello. In the right situation it can be the perfect finishing touch.
A Violin-Cello Duo is the most versatile, and I feel offers the most bang for your buck out of any string ensemble. It's more expensive than solo (two people) but we can play anything, from traditional classics to pop songs, we put out more sound so we can play larger venues, and we can fit in anywhere, from small rustic barn weddings to large formal churches.
Bottom line, if you're not sure that solo is the perfect choice, go with a duo. You'll be glad you did!
Solo Cello fits best with small, simple, intimate ceremonies with mostly traditional music. It's the least expensive, but it's limited in repertoire because there's only so much I can play that sounds good on one cello. In the right situation it can be the perfect finishing touch.
A Violin-Cello Duo is the most versatile, and I feel offers the most bang for your buck out of any string ensemble. It's more expensive than solo (two people) but we can play anything, from traditional classics to pop songs, we put out more sound so we can play larger venues, and we can fit in anywhere, from small rustic barn weddings to large formal churches.
Bottom line, if you're not sure that solo is the perfect choice, go with a duo. You'll be glad you did!
Location, location, location!
I'm a freelance professional musician, which means I go wherever the work is. My base rates include up to 1.5 hours from Webster NY, but I'll happily go farther if necessary - Buffalo, Finger Lakes, even back to the Adirondacks or Vermont. Find your ideal place first, then (wherever it happens to be) send me an e-mail and we'll see what we can do.
